More Heat Forecast For 'Abnormally Dry' Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Much of the region has had so little rain recently that it is classified as "abnormally dry" by the U.S. Drought Monitor, and some local water restrictions have begun as the forecast calls for more dry, hot weather.

"With heat building back next week and another prolonged period of mostly dry conditions it doesn’t appear much relief is in sight," Alex Marra and Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather said on Facebook. "Therefore we expect these near drought conditions to persist and or worsen in the week ahead."

The dry conditions have already led to some action on the part of local governments. For example:

• Voluntary water use restrictions are in effect for all of the town of Carmel's 13 water districts in Putnam County.
• Woodbury in Orange County is under a total water restriction: no outside water use is allowed.
• In Ulster County, Kingston issued a drought alert asking all water customers to voluntarily conserve water.

More hot weather is due here from the west.

"A 'heat dome' that has been responsible for the record-breaking temperatures in the Northwest will shift eastward during the first week of August," said AccuWeather meteorologists Ryan Adamson and Alex Sosnowski.

Heat index values could approach 100 degrees by late in the week, the National Weather Service said. Here's the NWS forecast for the week ahead, based on Rockland County:

• Friday - Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers this afternoon. Highs in the mid 80s. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph this afternoon. Chance of rain 20 percent.
• Friday night - Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Lows in the mid 60s. West winds around 5 mph.
• Saturday - Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Saturday Night - Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Sunday - Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. Northwest winds around 5 mph, becoming west in the afternoon.
• Sunday Night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.
• Monday - Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.
• Monday Night - Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s.
• Tuesday - Partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
• Tuesday Night - Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Lows in the upper 60s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
• Wednesday - Sunny. Highs around 90.
• Wednesday Night - Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 70s.
• Thursday - Sunny in the morning, then becoming partly sunny. Hot with highs in the mid 90s. Heat index values up to 100.

Hudson Riverkeeper offers some facts and tips about water conservation. Click here for their practical household guidelines on conserving water in the bathroom, kitchen, laundry and outside.